Each semester in LIS768 we take an hour and talk about Second Life and log in to see what it’s like. This is the first semester that we have actually chatted with a Reference Librarian and I was very happy the class got to participate. The librarian spoke with the class and told us she does a voluntary 2 hour shift weekly in world and gets a good number of reference questions from outside of LIS folk.

Some synchronicity: add to this an email I received from a librarian that follows me on Twitter who is teaching at Catholic University this semester.

You’ll note one focus of the class is working in SL. My LIS701 students were also very interested in the section in our new book about SL. I know SJSU has a presence, but what are other LIS schools doing with SL?

4 thoughts on “Visiting the Second Life Reference Desk”

Wonderful article! I’m glad to see Second Life get positive recognition for the hard-working, supportive people who participate there. This includes working and retired Librarians, as well as Volunteers from all walks of life.

I am a virtual reference librarian at The University of Puerto Rico and facilitator of an Second Life Information Professional Community of Practice (PIENSL) and we work hand in hand with the The Graduate School of Information Sciences and Technologies of the University of Puerto Rico (EGCTI)

They are experimenting with SL and this semester i am colaborating with Information Competencies in-world to a research methodologies course in the School.

PIENSL has as goals exploring and learning about virtual worlds to share the knowledge with colleagues, offer information and create innovative services in this emergent digital environment

As my colleague Pi writes, the Graduate School of Informatiion Science and Technologies of the University of Puerto Rico is also taking advantage of the excellent opportunities that Second Life provides.

As our project we have our space in world (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Hyeonjeong/38/231/34) in which we gather for classes, discuss issues of interests and this semester we are developing in world strategies for information skills development. within the Research Methods course that I teach. Students’ response has been excellent and they want more. I hope LIS programs can collaborate more as SL integration into information science edcation increases.